Category: OTL2023

Since his arrival in the UK Reginald’s searingly honest observations both onstage and on TV have garnered him a cross-generational fan base.

His TV appearances have included Have I Got News For You?, and two series of the BBC2’s hugely popular Reginald D Hunter’s Songs Of The South & Songs of The Border, documenting Reginald’s epic road trip through 150 years of American popular song.

Reginald has been performing comedy in the UK for over 20 years. During that time he has become one of the Comedy industry’s best-known performers for his distinctive take on the most diverse range of subjects.

His work can be brutally honest and is often considered to be controversial but it is always meticulously thought out and he has never been afraid to face challenging issues head on even when the focus is on his own principles or beliefs.

Doors 3.30pm | Unreserved Seating

‘ Reginald D Hunter joins the top rank of stand-up working today…a comedian going for broke, flying in the face of received opinion in a way that is simply exhilarating…this is comedy of a rare scope.’ THE TIMES

‘Compelling onstage charisman. He remains a towering presence in absolute control.’ EVENING STANDARD

Since his arrival in the UK Reginald’s searingly honest observations both onstage and on TV have garnered him a cross-generational fan base.

His TV appearances have included Have I Got News For You?, and two series of the BBC2’s hugely popular Reginald D Hunter’s Songs Of The South & Songs of The Border, documenting Reginald’s epic road trip through 150 years of American popular song.

Reginald has been performing comedy in the UK for over 20 years. During that time he has become one of the Comedy industry’s best-known performers for his distinctive take on the most diverse range of subjects.

His work can be brutally honest and is often considered to be controversial but it is always meticulously thought out and he has never been afraid to face challenging issues head on even when the focus is on his own principles or beliefs.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved Seating

‘ Reginald D Hunter joins the top rank of stand-up working today…a comedian going for broke, flying in the face of received opinion in a way that is simply exhilarating…this is comedy of a rare scope.’ THE TIMES

‘Compelling onstage charisman. He remains a towering presence in absolute control.’ EVENING STANDARD

Dirs. Anne Cutaia, Sophie Peyrard / France / 2022 / 54 mins

Landing in New York upon the ashes of post-hippie culture, twenty-year-old Patti Smith, will upset all the existing codes: cliché rock’n’roll, the overly prosaic poetry, the perpetually elitist culture, and the restrictive idea of gender.

During her fifty-year career, with only one commercial hit, she achieved the feat of becoming a living legend without ever leaving the fringes of society. A punk at heart, she positions art as a political force and freedom as a necessity.

Doors 1:30pm | Tickets £6.00

Miki Berenyi is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as a member of the indie band Lush and currently a member of Piroshka.

Described as “an extraordinary life story” by MOJO Magazine, her critically acclaimed autobiography, Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me from Success tracks the trials and tribulations of being a female singer-songwriter rising to fame in the 90’s.

The book begins with her childhood of extremes. From the bohemian lifestyle of her father’s social circle to the glamour of her mother’s acting career, Miki’s young life was a blur of travel, celebrities and private schooling.

But frequent relocation, parental neglect and the dark presence of her abusive grandmother resulted in crippling shyness, mental health issues and a vulnerability to exploitation. The route out of this hole was music – a passion shared by schoolmate Emma Anderson. The teenagers began attending gigs together and would eventually go on to form Lush.

Peppered with anecdotes involving a cast of hundreds (including Blur, Sean Connery, Tracey Emin, Pearl Jam and the Red Hot Chili Peppers), this uncompromising autobiography documents Lush’s thrilling rise, dispiriting fall and subsequent bounce back, reliving the tours, recording sessions and problematic managers they experienced along the way.

At the heart of the book are Miki’s own battles: the conflict between her mouthy public persona and her thin-skinned private identity; the trials of being a woman in an infuriatingly male world; the struggle to find a middle ground between safe indie obscurity and sell-out international success.

The memoir also explores Miki’s complex relationship with Emma – one that has fluctuated between camaraderie and rivalry over the years – and addresses the most devastating tragedy of all: the suicide of her soulmate, Lush drummer Chris Acland.

Told through frank confession, wry humour and emotional honesty, this is the incredible tale of a trailblazing woman and a seminal band.

Doors 3.45pm  |  Unreserved seating

Belfast songwriterAndy White’snew album This Garden is only Temporary is out now on vinyl release and we’re delighted he’s coming to Out to Lunch for its launch and his first Belfast show since before the pandemic.

Touring Canada, Andy met LA producer Steve Dierkens. They hit it off and these songs came together in Calgary, Melbourne, and Belfast. They feature Andy’s long-time collaborator Rod McVeyon keys and Kent McRae on drums. This Garden is only Temporary was released during lockdown to rave reviews and is available on vinyl in time for the tour.

Andy first arrived as a punk poet with an acoustic guitar and debut album Rave on Andy White, recently reissued in a deluxe vinyl edition. Since then he has toured the world many times over, recording with Sinead O’Connor and Billy Bragg, writing with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Allison Russell and Neil and Tim Finn.

Political, literary, wearing his influences proudly on his sleeve, Andy has been compared with Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg and Lloyd Cole. A man of his time and place, reflecting the chaos and beauty of the world we live in. Twenty albums in, things are getting interesting.

‘One of the finest songwriters of his generation’ –R2 MAGAZINE

‘The heart is open and the words are a tumble of sentiment’–BELFAST TELEGRAPH

‘Effortless and captivating’–  IRISH TIMES

There is a growing resolve in the classical music world to shine a light on composers and performers who have been unjustifiably neglected or, worse still, deliberately written out of that genre’s history. Works by female composers and composers of colour are being given a new prominence and celebrated as they always should have been.

The work of Louise Farrenc has featured in recent Ulster Orchestra Seasons and her colourful, dramatic writing is a welcome addition to the UO’s repertoire.

Piano teacher extraordinaire, composer, equal pay campaigner, Farrenc was a force of nature to be reckoned with in the musical circles of 19th Century Paris and we’re passionate about making sure our audiences get to know more about this inspirational woman.

Her Nonet was one of her most celebrated pieces in its day, with the premiere involving the star violinist of the time, Joseph Joachim. It’s a warm and upbeat work, full of imaginative writing for an unusual combination of instruments. We look forward to introducing you to this remarkable woman and her wonderful music!

Alongside the Farrenc will be some other hidden gems of the chamber repertoire, performed by some of the Orchestra’s versatile and talented players.

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved seating

Ever since she can remember, Isy has been searching for ways to make her life more exciting: ouija boards, exploring derelict houses and jumping off things for a bet. She often meets others who share the same love of pushing the boundaries: the Welsh taxi driver who found a mischievous way of brightening up his day, and a neighbour who created a network of tunnels beneath his house just for the fun of it.

Now, things have changed: she’s got children of her own and a partner who detests surprises. In her return to live stand-up, she asks whether it’s enough to try and find that buzz on mums’ weekends away or on family walks in the woods, and quite why she continues to hunt for it at all costs.

As seen as Dobby in Channel 4’s Peep Show, Esther in Shameless, Ally in Man Down, on Would I Lie To You, 8 Out of 10 Cats,Hypothetical, Q.I. and much more, Isy has been nominated for three British Comedy Awards, and won a gold Sony Award for her BBC Radio 4 series Isy Suttie’s Love Letters. The paperback of her second book, Jane Is Trying, was released in spring 2022.

‘Suttie’s eye for revealing detail yields plenty of laughs’ – The Guardian

‘The perfect concoction of warmth and grit’ – The Independent 

Doors 7:30pm | Unreserved Seating

Louise Kennedy

The Black Box

Wednesday 11 January, 1.00pm

It’s been a remarkable few years for Holywood-born author Louise Kennedy. Her debut collection of short stories, The End of the World is a Cul de Sac was described by The Guardian as ‘A dazzling, heartbreaking debut collection’ while the Sunday Times said ‘Kennedy’s voice, and her unforgiving gaze, are electric.

Louise Kennedy’s recent novel Trespasses, is a stunning and devastating love story set against the backdrop of The Troubles. She has written for the Guardian, the Irish Times, and BBC Radio 4. Before becoming a writer, she worked as a chef for almost thirty years.

‘These stories sing, haunt and inspire laughter … One of the best collections I’ve read in years’ Sinead Gleeson 

Tickets £10.00 (including lunch)

Doors 12.30PM | Unreserved Seating

Fresh from the success of her sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run, Julie Jay brings Oops, This Is Toxic to the Out to Lunch Festival.

This dark-comedy love letter to Britney Spears is a nostalgia-fest for anyone who has ever dropped to that ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ beat and for anyone who came of age against the pernicious backdrop of 90s/00s misogyny. Expect post-Caesarean twerking! Jared Leto! Felony Arson! Dizzying double-standards! More Jared Leto! Snakes! (not just the Timberlake kind).

Oops, This Is Toxic is a celebration of surviving sexism and toxic situations. But most of all, it is a celebration of Britney. Warning: this show contains references to 00s fashion which some people may find offensive.

“One of Ireland’s leading comedians” – The Journal 

 “A joy to watch” – Joanne Mc Nally

 “The funniest thing I’ve seen in a long, long time” – Tommy Tiernan

Doors 7.30pm  |  Unreserved Seating

Award-winning singers Michelle Baird, Ceara Grehan and Lynne McAllister have brought their rich voices, unique harmonies and versatility to the stage as The Leading Ladies for twenty years.

One of the first vocal harmony groups of the time, they have won much acclaim with multiple performances in venues including NEC Birmingham, Royal Horseguards London, Dublin’s National Concert Hall and Waterfront Hall.

They also achieved a sell-out concert with the Galway Tenors at the Ulster Hall, shared the stage with the Three Tenors Ireland at Dublin’s National Concert Hall, performed at Belfast’s Opera in the Gardens, Derry Jazz Festival and have made numerous appearances on television, radio and online.

Join The Leading Ladies for a special lunchtime treat that offers something for everyone! From classical crossover and musical theatre, to 40s/50s swing, Celtic and chart hits – all performed in their own inimitable vocal arrangements and close harmony style!

***** “Individually excellent, collectively brilliant!”– Belfast Telegraph

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved seating

Fresh from his multi-award-winning BBC Radio 4 series Rob Newman On Air, the comedian’s epic new stand-up show goes from cave paintings to car-free cities, by way of Homo Erectus dance steps,Julius Caesar’s traffic ban, rewilding and Rapper’s Remorses.

‘Refreshingly intelligent and hugely entertaining!’ -The Guardian

Doors 7:30pm | Unreserved Seating

Tickets £12.00

Harry Bradley and Dónal O’Connor first met in the late 1990’s on the vibrant Belfast traditional music session scene. A common grá for the music of South Ulster and North Connaught was the thread on which they shared interests. However, they ventured on their own unique musical journeys thereafter.

Since Harry’s recent return to Belfast, they have rekindled a musical friendship and are mining the rich repository of northern music which has been left by the likes of Andy Dixon, Cathal McConnell, Ciaran Carson, Desi Wilkinson, Tara Bingham, Johnny & Seán Maguire, Gary Hastings and many more. Today’s performance is a new musical coming together with one of Ireland’s finest young musical accompanists Libby McCrohan.

Harry Bradley was born in South Belfast. The vibrant recording heritage from the 1920s and 30s has had a huge influence on his flute-playing style. Noted for his unique tone and driving rhythm, Harry has come to be recognized as one of the most distinctive flute players in Ireland today. In 2014 he was the recipient of the TG4 Gradam Cheoil Traditional Musician of the Year Award.

Dónal O’Connor has inherited a musical legacy of five generations of fiddle playing. His style is heavily influenced by his family, the Oriel tradition and the great northern fiddle masters such as Seán Maguire, Bríd Harper and Tommy Peoples. Having toured the world and recorded critically acclaimed albums with groups such as Lá Lugh, At First Light and more recently Ulaid, he has since established himself as one of Ireland’s leading television and music producers. He has composed music for theatre, television and film and has presented and produced music programmes for RTÉ, BBC ALBA, BBC NI, TG4, BBC Radio Ulster and Raidio Na Gaeltachta.

Libby McCrohan is a bouzouki player from Dublin. She plays an original round back Greek bouzouki. Her approach to accompaniment is sensitive, subtle, and rhythmical, taking inspiration from the regulator playing of uilleann pipers. Libby has performed all over Ireland and abroad and has featured on two albums to date – the critically acclaimed Heard a Long Gone Song by Lisa O’Neill and Not Before Time… 39 Years in the Making by Páraic Mac Donnchadha.

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved seating

A young married woman begins an intense affair with an older man as a way of escaping her manipulative mother. But she comes to realise that her lover is a mirror image of her mother – just as seductive, just as demanding, and ultimately just as dangerous.

Set in modern-day Ireland, this unsettling novel from Belfast journalist Fionola Meredith charts the course of a deeply dysfunctional ‘age-gap’ relationship to its inevitable conclusion.

Disturbing yet entertaining, forensic but somehow compassionate, this compelling debut unflinchingly reveals what lies at the heart of the male fear of intimacy, and the hidden impulses which can drive our most fatal attractions.

Fionola Meredith is a writer, broadcaster and commentator, based in Belfast. A former academic, with a PhD in Philosophy, she is a long-established contributor to the Irish Times, BBC Northern Ireland, and writes a weekly opinion column in the Belfast Telegraph. The Stamp of Beauty is Fionola’s debut novel.

‘At last we have the opportunity to jump head first into the warped, seductive and darkly humorous mind of Fionola Meredith.’ – DAVID HOLMES

‘Fionola Meredith creates a visceral story of mistaken love that both manages to disturb and entertain.’ – DAVID PARK

Event includes DJ set by Tanya Mellotte

Admission free but ticketed

“Bless me father for I have sinned. And I’m about to sin again…”
Vicor Blackley/ Michael Flatley – Blackbird

We invite you to strap on your fedora, bowtie and big man girdle for one last job and join us for this very special Out to Lunch screening.

Blackbird, the feature directorial debut of famed, flame-footed Lord of the Dance and Riverdance legend Michael Flatley.  is “a spy thriller of the classic genre,”. It’s also a movie what he wrote, produced, self-financed and – you’ve guessed it – stars in.

Victor Blackley (geddit?) is “a troubled secret agent” whose life of retirement running a “luxurious nightclub in the Caribbean” is turned upside down when “an old flame arrives and reignites love in his life, but she brings danger with her”.

Have a drink every time someone tips their hat. Throw your own hat in the ring for our ‘moody-turning-to-face-the-camera-wearing-a-fedora’ competition. Enjoy a specially made Blackbird cocktail (shaken and stirred) and celebrate all things Blackley in this very special screening. Because Flatley my dear, we DO give a damn.

“The acting and writing are like the non-sexy bits that come between the sexy bits in a porn film made in 1985”The Guardian

“Holy Fuckballs” Screen International

Swordfishtrombones was first released in 1983 on Island Records. It had been previously rejected by Asylum Records as too weird for the masses and not enough ‘Martha’.

All the songs were written during a two-week trip to Ireland and produced by Tom Waits. The record is bursting with unusual and sparse instrumentation, at times heartfelt and haunting.

It peaked at no 164 in the Billboard Pop Album Charts but was lauded by NME, Spin and Pitchfork as one of the best albums of all time from one of the best American pop songwriters of all time.

We have invited a varied section of the musician community here to offer their spin on this cult classic album. Kyron Bourke, Duke Special, Clara Tracey and Mike Mormecha will all offer their versions onstage as part of this Out to Lunch special presented in association with the Oh Yeah Centre.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

‘A kaleidoscopic swirl of urban life in motion.’ – FAR OUT MAGAZINE

‘…weirdness, heartfelt lyrics and haunting instrumentals adds up to a superior LP…’– ROLLING STONE

Support by DJ Sarge

After years of parties in Belfast, Superfly Funk and Soul Club are joining forces with Deptford Northern Soul Club with support from DJ Sarge.

Deptford Northern Soul Club are childhood friends, Will Foot and Lewis Henderson, whose early love of soul developed after discovering Lewis’ Dad’s record collection. After finally bringing their musical heritage to the forefront with their debut DJ set at Deptfords Bunker Club 4 years ago, they have since taken their unique club night around the UK, performing at the likes of Glastonbury festival and Green Man, alongside a residency at Manchester’s YES, their beloved Bunker Club and London’s Moth Club.

Whether behind a turntable, dancing out front or in discussion, their sheer love and passion for soul is infectious, as is the spark of friendship and mutual musical appreciation between the two of them. 27-years-old but with old heads on their young shoulders, they have emerged as the new face of Northern Soul, bringing the movement back into the conversation of modern dance music.

Superfly Funk and Soul began as just another regular soul night in the city but has fast become an established brand, combining a popular online radio show with a website packed with interesting content, a range of merchandise and a high energy club night.

The club nights have proven to be one of the best nights out in Belfast and have continued to grow in both stature and in popularity featuring quality acts such as The Allergies, Smoove and Turrell and Crowd Company. Local bands such as The Organauts, Freedom 35s and Supertonic Sound Club have all played, helping to play their part in some brilliant nights.

Doors 10.00pm | Mostly standing

Emer Maguire flawlessly blends laugh out loud musical comedy, science, and Northern Irish charm.

Her debut solo show Emer Maguire: Hilarious Humans enjoyed a sell-out run at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Hilarious Humans takes an uproariously funny (and sometimes scientific) look at the oddities of human behaviour through Emer’s ingenious musical comedy.

Her most recent shows In Her Element and Up to High Dohhave sold out the Ulster Hall and the MAC respectively so this is a rare opportunity to experience Emer in the intimate venue where her comedy career first began.

Doors 2.00pm | Unreserved seating

‘Emer Maguire is one of the most unique comic prospects in the country.’– BELFAST TELEGRAPH

‘A person so relatable, daft and plain old funny – there’s no need for fake wigs or silly voices. Just Emer, unfiltered – a truly Hilarious Human.’ - DAILY MIRROR

‘An indie Victoria Wood’– BBC

Nine Below Zero are one of Britain’s most respected R&B bands, famous for their no-frills, punchy and direct approach.

Forty years since Nine Below Zero first offered a rhythm & blues alternative to the punk-pop of the mainstream, the south Londoners make a welcome return to Out to Lunch with their Are We There Yet? tour.

Formed in 1979 and named after the famous Sonny Boy Williamson song, in 1980 they signed to A&M Records and released the seminal Live at the Marquee album. By the end of that year, they had moved from selling out the Marquee to selling out the Hammersmith Odeon.

With a reputation as “one of the best blues bands around today” for their scintillating live performances, this show will not disappoint – expect a fearsome, supercharged set from start to finish.

Doors 1:30pm | Limited Unreserved Seating

Nine Below Zero are one of Britain’s most respected R&B bands, famous for their no-frills, punchy and direct approach.

Forty years since Nine Below Zero first offered a rhythm & blues alternative to the punk-pop of the mainstream, the south Londoners make a welcome return to Out to Lunch with their Are We There Yet? tour.

Formed in 1979 and named after the famous Sonny Boy Williamson song, in 1980 they signed to A&M Records and released the seminal Live at the Marquee album. By the end of that year, they had moved from selling out the Marquee to selling out the Hammersmith Odeon.

With a reputation as “one of the best blues bands around today” for their scintillating live performances, this show will not disappoint – expect a fearsome, supercharged set from start to finish.

Doors 7:30pm | Limited Unreserved Seating

Swordfishtrombones was first released in 1983 on Island Records. It had been previously rejected by Asylum Records as too weird for the masses and not enough ‘Martha’.

All the songs were written during a two-week trip to Ireland and produced by Tom Waits. The record is bursting with unusual and sparse instrumentation, at times heartfelt and haunting.

It peaked at no 164 in the Billboard Pop Album Charts but was lauded by NME, Spin and Pitchfork as one of the best albums of all time from one of the best American pop songwriters of all time.

We have invited a varied section of the musician community here to offer their spin on this cult classic album. Kyron Bourke, Duke Special, Clara Tracey and Mike Mormecha will all offer their versions onstage as part of this Out to Lunch special presented in association with the Oh Yeah Centre.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

‘A kaleidoscopic swirl of urban life in motion.’ – FAR OUT MAGAZINE

‘…weirdness, heartfelt lyrics and haunting instrumentals adds up to a superior LP…’– ROLLING STONE

The formation of Dark Tropics was inevitable. Drawn together by a bond that stretched from Ireland to Morocco, musicians Rio McGuinness and Gerard Sands found common ground in the form of Radiohead, Aretha Franklin and The Velvet Underground.

Armed with the influences of Somerset Maugham, Paul Auster and John Cooper-Clarke, the pair formed a partnership – one that relies equally on instinct and guile.

Their creative vision has borne fruit with timeless, cinematic pop-noir. Powered by analogue instruments and retro recording techniques the music sways and breathes naturally.

Their themes are everywhere – the burning highs of lust, the fragility of heartache, the sting of betrayal and defiance in the face of hurt. A meld of contemporary and classic, individual and universal, the scope of Dark Tropics is limited only by how far down the rabbit hole you wish to follow.

Dark Tropics released debut album Ink in late 2021 to widespread critical praise and are currently working on its follow-up.

Doors 7.30pm | Limited Unreserved Seating

‘Lovely, cinematic, understated pop’ -STEVE LAMACQ, BBC 6MUSIC 

‘This sounds beautiful’ – JO WILEY, BBC RADIO 2

‘Atmospheric, moody and complex with a maturity that goes beyond the realms of a debut release.’ – HOT PRESS

“Is it about a bicycle?”

It is – and much more besides…

A thriller, a hilarious comic satire about an archetypal village police force, a surrealistic vision of eternity, the story of a tender, brief, unrequited love affair between a man and his bicycle, and a chilling fable of unending guilt, ‘The Third Policeman’ is comparable only to Alice in Wonderland as an allegory of the absurd.

Distinguished by its endless comic invention and a delicate balancing of logic and fantasy, The Third Policeman is unique in the English language and is described as a masterpiece of black humour.

Presented here for musical ensemble and narrator, this production has been hailed as “An exceptional event” by BBC Radio Ulster

READ BY Phelim Drew. Live Score by Colin Reid.

Doors 7:30pm | Tickets £12.00

After a fully sold out run with extra shows added at Edinburgh Fringe 2022, Vittorio brings his debut stand-up show to Belfast.

Irish-Italian comedian Vittorio Angelone went to see Brian Friel’s Translations’ at the National Theatre in London. He loved the play, still does, but was deeply disturbed (read: pissed off) by the reaction of the English audience. Join him as he tackles being Irish in England, identity, and the sad comedy shows that seem to win awards.

“Outstanding”

★★★★★ – The Student

“Just wow.”

★★★★½ – Chortle

“Come for the caustic wit, stay for a poignancy that never strays into shameless pandering.” – Rolling Stone Magazine

“So much better than he has any right to be at this stage of his career” – Adam Rowe

“British stand-up’s new wonderkid. Emphasis on the British please. Underlined.” – Fin Taylor

As seen on: BBC One, Channel 4, Have a Word podcast

Tour support for: Adam Rowe, Jason Manford, Dan Nightingale and Shane Todd

BBC New Comedy Award Regional Finalist

British Comedian of the Year Semi-Finalist

NOMINEE: Dave’s Best Newcomer at Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Doors 7:30pm | Unreserved Seating

Join us for an hour of glamour and sparkle, taking you back into the worlds of Kurt Weill, Jaques Brel, Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich.

Join us as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival’s ‘Out To Lunch’ programme, with captivating performances featuring cabaret classics staged by Northern Ireland’s award-winning national opera company.

A decadent lunch included in the ticket price.

Doors 12.30pm  |  Unreserved seating

Dir. Niall Trask, 2021, UK, 35 min

Out to Lunch presents the Northern Irish Premiere of this incendiary film about one of the most incendiary bands of the last decade.

Moonbathing in February is described by Lias Saoudi of the unapologetically anarchic South Londoners Fat White Family as “a no-budget DIY film about the ‘throwing shit at the wall until something sticks’ stage of the album-making process”.

He adds that it “also serves as a portrait of just how hard it is to get your rocks off at the bitter end of a winter lockdown and what, if anything, it means to be in a band at this abysmal juncture in music history”. 

A short, sharp blast of undiluted creative mayhem.

Footage and Film of Fat White Family before the main feature.  25mins.

Tenx9 is teaming up with Out to Lunch Festival and as it’s our first event of 2023 our theme is Fresh Start. Get in touch with your true stories at tenx9.com/submissions and join us in the Black Box on January 18 2023.

Tenx9 is a storytelling evening where nine people have up to ten minutes each to tell a true story from their own life. It was created in 2011 by Pádraig Ó Tuama & Paul Doran in the Black Box in Belfast. It aims to strip away the barriers that prevent people from sharing their experiences. It is always free of charge.

Medusa is one of the most recognisable figures in Greek Myth: her face has stared out at us for millennia, from Agamemnon’s shield in the Iliad to Versace’s logo now.

Gorgons and gorgon heads were an enormously popular feature on ancient statues and temples. So was Medusa always the terrifying monster we have made her?

Natalie Haynes takes you on a fast-paced tour through the history of Medusa, who she was and why we still see her all around us today. From the author of Pandora’s Jar and the new Medusa novel, Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes shows you how to survive contact with someone who can turn you to stone with a glance.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

The Skallions are a Belfast based 8-piece Ska, Reggae powerhouse, bringing bags of energy and stacks of attitude.

Bursting onto the Belfast music scene in late 2017 opening for New York rocksteady legends, The Slackers, The Skallions have wasted no time bringing their unique brand of perfectly balanced fun and mayhem to audiences across Ireland.

Since that incendiary debut there have been major shows with Jaya the cat, David Rodigan, King Kong Company and The Specials.

Released during the pandemic, debut album Skallion Battalion has caught the attention of ska fans from all over the world. The band has achieved all this with the old punk ethos of DIY, supporting themselves through hard work and determination.

Ska at lunchtime? Makes perfect sense to us.

Doors 12.30 | Unreserved seating

Ross Wilson aka Blue Rose Code writes songs straight from – and to – the heart. They address universal themes of love, loss, travel, home, accepting the past and embracing the future in a deeply personal way.

His music seamlessly blends folk, Americana, jazz, soul and pop influences into something truly unique. A magnetic performer who loves to connect with his audience, Ross and Blue Rose Code are now firmly established as one of UK’s most uplifting and powerful live acts.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

Carol Hodge is a seven-fingered, piano-pounding, Yorkshire-dwelling Singer-Songwriter. Think Regina Spektor meets Billy Bragg, but with fewer digits and a continuous existential crisis, sandwiched between bitter irony and relentless optimism.

Active as a solo artist since 2016, Carol’s third studio album The Crippling Space Between was released in 2021. Produced by Dave Draper ( The Wildhearts, The Professionals, Dodgy, Terrorvision), The Crippling Space Between is an unashamed exploration of the emotional rollercoaster that was 2020. 

Carol flits between musical styles, bridging the gaps with her astute lyricism. A fierce believer in remaining independent, the album was released on Carol’s own label Midnight Stamp. Lead single Moan Of A Thousand Years was named Track Of The Week by Classic Rock magazine readers in October 2021. 

Previous albums Savage Purge (2020) and Hold On To That Flame (2018) featured on several Top Album end-of-year lists, and 2020 single Stopped Believing In You received signifiant indie and online radio play, including from BBC Manchester and BBC Bristol. 

Carol has collaborated continuously with other artists over the past ten years, and is perhaps best known for her work with Crass founder Steve Ignorant. She took lead vocals on the Last Supper tour in 2011, singing the songs of Crass all over the world, a role which is being reprised in 2021/22. 

Carol is the pianist in Steve Ignorant’s Slice Of Life and has performed across the UK and Europe since 2012. When not dabbling in anarcho-punk, Carol provides live keys and BVs for Texan country-rock star Ryan Hamilton and makes occasional guest appearances on keys with The Membranes and The Ginger Wildheart Band.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

Five Women. Ten instruments. Wookalily.

With awe-inspiring four-part harmonies, low-bowed double bass, flutes, trumpet, banjo and more, Wookalily create a masterful and sweeping sonic tapestry that will leave audiences rapt with wonder, and wanting more.

This is an ambitious folk music. Daring to dissolve musical and generic boundaries. Irreverently intertwining the disciplines of blues, rock, punk and more to create a unique and singular musical menagerie that must be witnessed to be truly experienced. Audiences are left spinning with transcendent melodies and floating on ethereal vocals.

Wookalily have performed in session for the BBC, UTV, RTE and Sky. Notable live performances include support for Martha Wainwright at Soma, IBMA Songwriter’s Showcase in Nashville and more recently at Electric Picnic County Laois.

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved seating

Mungo’s love soundsystem culture to the core – from its Jamaican roots to raves, club and festivals.

When performing as DJs, playing on their heavyweight soundsystem, producing music, collaborating with vocalists and releasing artists on their label, Scotch Bonnet, they create a uniquely uplifting experience.

Dougie No Pain, Craigy Wonder, Breezak Bass and Tommy Danger are the Scottish collective known as Mungo’s Hi Fi.

Explosion Soundsystem are Northern Ireland’s original heavyweight Soundsystem, dedicated to promoting Jamaican music and soundsystem culture since 2012.

Doors 7.30pm| Limited Unreserved Seating

Out to Lunch presents a special festival edition of Coven, a monthly comedy show dedicated to foregrounding women and LGBT+ performers. Adam Laughlin hosts a stellar lineup of new and established acts including David Doherty-Jebb, Rachel McPeake, Laura Conlon, Sarah Firby and Pete Giffen.

Hosted by Sarah Firby.

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved Seating

Dir. Michelle Heighway, 2022, UK, 70 min

Out to Lunch is delighted to present the Northern Irish premiere of this powerful film about one of music’s great forces of nature – the ever-enigmatic Damo Suzuki.

Energy is an existential journey through the power of healing with the former lead singer of krautrock legends CAN.

The film follows Suzuki over five years of his life in Germany and the UK as he confronts cancer and attempts to continue a never-ending global tour.

Critically acclaimed directorMichelle Heighwayhas been working with the mercurial Japanese-born musician since 2014, culminating in the fascinating insights of this incredible documentary.

Doors 2.30pm  |  Unreserved Seating

It’s Neil Young day at Out to Lunch. Ahead of the (sold out) show by Harvest later this evening, we are screening this immersive, fly-on-the-wall portrait of one of the world’s great artists at the peak of their creative powers.

Created between January and September 1971, this docu-film takes us on an intimate journey to Young’s farm in Northern California for the ‘Harvest Barn’ sessions, to London for an iconic performance with the London Symphony Orchestra and to Nashville where the then 20 something Neil Young worked on various tracks of this signature album.

The feature is a fan piece that has never been seen before. Performance and rehearsal content is intertwined into creative storytelling and includes most of the tracks from album Harvest (released in 1972) including Heart of Gold, A Man Needs A Maid, Alabama and Old Man. Get a drink, sit back, and enjoy.

Doors 1.30pm | Unreserved seating

Singer and songwriter Siobhan Brown aka Manuhunney was born in London of Jamaican heritage and has lived most of her life in Bangor, Northern Ireland.

Her band Manukahunney have been lighting up dance floors across Northern Ireland since 2012 and Siobhan’s shows are legendary for her unique infectious performances which always touch your soul.

As a recent awardee of the prestigious MOBO Help Musician Fund, Manukahunney will soon release an exciting 2nd EP later in 2023 which represents her re-emergence as an independent artist following a quiet spell over the last few years of lockdown.

A precursor to her EP Release Manukahunney’s single and music video launch party for her stomping tune Overcomer will be a night to celebrate.  Overcomer is an upbeat feel-good single with leanings towards classic 90’s Dance soul.

The song is an anthem that celebrates our resilience and the desire and strength of our communities to acknowledge and lift each other up, no matter our differences and to overcome the challenges we face together. We are Overcomers!

This is music inspired by a wide range of artists such as Rachelle Farelle, Anita Baker, Sharon Jones, Angelique Kidjo , Jill Scott, Erykah Badu,  Aretha Franklin and Gregory Porter.

As well as sold out festival appearances across Northern Ireland, Siobhan  also has her our soul show on BBC Radio  Ulster  – The Siobhan Brown Soul Show now in its 4th series and currently airing on Sundays at 4pm.

Tonight’s event will be supported by Manukahunney Soul DJ  – DJ Dee, playing his infamous selection of soul classics  to get your feet tapping and your body moving.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

Father Earth is the true story of one man’s attempt to help save the planet, by converting a derelict church on the Orkney Isles into an eco-friendly recording studio.

It’s also a fascinating study of a psychological power struggle between a character comedian – Graham Fellows, and his long-standing creation – John Shuttleworth.

Father Earth is also about family relationships – specifically between fathers and sons –  and it explores the paradox: how in the battle against extinction we are often distracted by personal and family issues, as they appear more important and pressing than the future of the planet.

Funny yet moving, and filmed mainly in the Orkney Isles over a 10-year period, Father Earth is Graham Fellows’ most thoughtful and accomplished movie to date.  Previous work includes It’s Nice Up North filmed by Martin Parr (2004) and Southern Softies (2008).

Father Earth features guest appearances from Sooty and Sweep, and a virtuoso performance from Graham’s mathematically driven elderly father Derek.

This 83 minute documentary will be followed by a Q&A with performer/director Graham Fellows. 

PG Certificate 

Doors 2.30pm | Unreserved seating

A collection for solo traditional musicians and computer with Paddy Glackin (fiddle), Saileog Ní Cheannabháin (piano), Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn (uilleann pipes), Pauline Scanlon (voice), Jack Talty (concertina).

‘Aonaracht I is a collection of six pieces for solo traditional musician and computer. Each piece is a unique combination of the traditional musician, their instrument, and electronics.

Traditional music is often thought of and enjoyed in group contexts. I wanted to think of the traditional instrument as it is to the player – first and foremost a private relationship between one person and their instrument. 

What might it be like if something of that relationship was heard alongside the acoustic instrument? Can technology be used to sound the world of traditional music beyond the tunes?

Each piece has a different theme, exploring Irish traditional music and improvisation, poetry, artificial intelligence, feminism, instrumentation and community . Each features a custom made relationship with the computer, involving fixed media, electroacoustic sound, field recordings, improvisation and live electronics. I worked on this collection with specific players in mind, and shaped the coding and sound for each.’ – Úna Monaghan

This event will feature tracks performed live by Paddy Glackin, Pauline Scanlon, Úna Monaghan and Jack Talty. Singer Síle Denvir will host a discussion with the artists on the making of the album, and combining traditional music with technology.

Doors 2.30pm | Unreserved seating

A true-crime podcast with a twist…of lime.

On the back of their Edinburgh Festival run, double British Podcast Award nominations, and tour, Drunk Women Solving Crime come to Ireland for the first time when they appear as part of the Out To Lunch Festival.

Each episode sees the boozed-up panel of writer/comedian hosts Hannah George, Catie Wilkins and Taylor Glenn test out their drunk detective skills and solve true crime cases, along with a star-studded roster of guests, who have included Katherine Ryan, Ricki Lake, Deborah Frances -White, Sara Pascoe, and Shazia Mirza among many others.

Plus, the audience gets the chance to have any unresolved crimes against them solved by our sloshed sleuths….whatever happens, they won’t make things worse.

Doors 2:30pm | Tickets £12.00

A true-crime podcast with a twist…of lime.

On the back of their Edinburgh Festival run, double British Podcast Award nominations, and tour, Drunk Women Solving Crime come to Ireland for the first time when they appear as part of the Out To Lunch Festival.

Each episode sees the boozed-up panel of writer/comedian hosts Hannah George, Catie Wilkins and Taylor Glenn test out their drunk detective skills and solve true crime cases, along with a star-studded roster of guests, who have included Katherine Ryan, Ricki Lake, Deborah Frances -White, Sara Pascoe, and Shazia Mirza among many others.

Plus, the audience gets the chance to have any unresolved crimes against them solved by our sloshed sleuths….whatever happens, they won’t make things worse.

Doors 7:30pm | Tickets £12.00

Have you ever wondered where Steven Seagal gets his ideas from?

‘When Kitty sings, music stops to listen’ – Jazz in Europe Magazine

London based singer Kitty La Roar makes her Belfast debut at Out to Lunch – singing, scatting and free-styling at the drums.

Originally inspired by Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, stylish UK-based singer Kitty La Roar’s unique talents are not just as silky voiced songstress, scat-singer and drummer: she has an spellbinding ability to freestyle lyrics to melody on the spot, telling stories that are not only relevant to the song she is singing, but often weaving in references to life, love, nature, politics, current events, and even to people in the audience.

She performs highly original songs by Kitty and her pianist Nick Shankland and although the genre is clearly jazz, this unpredictable and eclectic music entrances and engages the audience.

The band will be showcasing original compositions from the album Valentine’s Eve, as well as original lyrics to the music of Monk, Ellington, Strayhorn and Sonny Rollins.

Kitty La Roar – vocals / drums
Nick Shankland – piano vocals / bass keys

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved seating

“A force of nature” – Michael Feinstein

“Simply mesmerising!” – Rye Jazz Festival

“Chic chanteuse” – The Independent

“Fantastic!” – OK Magazine

“Seductive.. world class vocals” – Penthouse Magazine

Presented by Out To Lunch, Queen’s Film Theatre and  the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s

Paul Muldoon and Director Alan Gilsenan will take part in a Q and A following the screening.

A feature-length documentary on the Armagh-born poet Paul Muldoon in which key moments in his creative life, which began with him writing poems in Irish as a schoolboy, is explored by many of the musicians Paul has worked with over the years.

The film creatively composes the story of his life through poems and special performances. Directed by renowned Irish documentarian Alan Gilsenan, Muldoon himself narrates this unique Irish language film, which is an expression of his deep love of song lyrics and poetry. Featuring Liam Neeson, Paul Simon and PJ Harvey, amongst others, and using Muldoon’s own words to explore key moments in his creative life, the film is an imaginative and innovative tribute to a great literary mind.

A BelowTheRadarTV Production for BBC Gaelige, TG4, NIScreen and BAI

Director: Alan Gilsenan

The Special Consensus is a bluegrass band that has achieved a contemporary sound in over four decades of performing, making their music a modern classic. Band members include leader Greg Cahill (banjo), Dan Eubanks (bass), Greg Blake (guitar) and Michael Prewitt (mandolin).

Special Consensus has released 20 band recordings and received six awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and two Grammy nominations. Greg has also received the prestigious IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award.

Chicago Barn Dance, released by Compass Records in 2020, is the 20th Special C recording that celebrates both the 45th band anniversary and the long-standing connection of country and bluegrass music with Chicago from the time of the WLS “National Barn Dance” that was a precursor to the Grand Ole Opry.

The title song Chicago Barn Dance received the 2020 IBMA Song of the Year award. A band who are at the absolute top of their game.

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved Seating

October 2022 marked 60 years since The Beatles first record, Love Me Do. It hit the chart in week 1 and they’ve never really left them since.

Now, in the wake of Peter Jackson’s jaw-dropping Get Back trilogy and Sir Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday celebrations, world leading Beatles author Mark Lewisohn will present a new format show, screening curated riches from his incomparable archive to speed-deliver 62 fascinating history bites about one year.

EVOLVER:62 is 62 sharp vivid moments that add up. It’s Beatles on the launchpad and detonation time for our huge cultural shift. Lovingly sharing items from his filing cabinets, Lewisohn will guide audiences through a galaxy of real-life moments, letting authentic archival gems transport you back where they once belonged, to see and feel how it all was before it was.

People can expect to be well informed after a single two-hour show, tugged by 62 fast-moving stories of lives, loves, laughs, drama, death, beauty and music, one incredible engaging episode after another.

The bottom line? Whether you’re new to the Beatles or think you’ve seen it all, come and love it a whole lot more … and be completely enthralled. The deeper you go, the higher you fly.

Mark Lewisohn is the acknowledged world authority on the Beatles. His books include Tune In (which is the first volume in his historical trilogy The Beatles: All These Years) as well as the bestselling and influential Recording Sessions, The Complete Beatles Chronicle and (as co-author) The Beatles’ London.

He was consultant and researcher for all aspects – TV, DVDs, CDs and book – of The Beatles Anthology. A photographer in the little spare time he allows, his work appears in the photo book An Englishman In Mons.

Tickets £12.00

Doors 7.00pm | Unreserved Seating

When our only dedicated women’s hostel is threatened with closure, six determined workers rise together to fight against a failing system and an uncaring establishment. For 12 weeks they live, work, and breathe resistance.

Standing up to a management structure refusing to find solutions.

Standing up for the women they protect.

Standing up for essential services.

Standing up to shout: NOT ON OUR WATCH

Followed by a post-show discussion.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

Please Note: The Bar is open before the show but not during.

Teresa Livingstone is a classy lady, at least she tries to be despite everything being a 40-something Northern Irish woman throws at her.

She spent her thirties being delighted by the success of others and her ever-fluctuating weight but her forties are here and there’s no time like the present to rewrite the rules.

One of Northern Ireland’s top comedy acts, Teresa is bringing her unique blend of stand up, songs, gin and ‘going out’ leggings to The Black Box for one afternoon only!

As seen on BBC’s The Blame Game, Soft Border Patrol and Late Licence.

‘One of the few Belfast acts moving away from traditional stand up’ –  THE GUARDIAN 

‘With hilarious songs like “Cake and Wine” and “Nice Ladies”, no one escapes Teresa’s commentary.’ – BELFAST LIVE 

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved seating

A unique performance celebrating these wonderful artists collectively and individually.

In the height of lockdown ’21, a small window opened for four incredible musical artists to meet up. It was not known what would come out of the writing retreat, but the results were astonishing.

Their first collective release was called True Love. Written by all four members of CEITHRE CINN, it was recorded live moments later.  The song became one of the most played songs on BBC Radio Ulster and RTE Radio 1 that year, having been playlisted on both.

Ciaran Lavery is an NI Music Prize winner for Best Album. Suzanne Savage is a virtuosic vocalist and first call for Paul Brady, the RTE Concert Orchestra and many more. Finnian is one of Ireland’s fastest rising musical stars. Matt McGinn is an award winning and prolific songwriter from the Mourne Mountains. Together they are Ceithre Cinn.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

‘After defeat, re-enchantment is necessary’, said Lola Olufemi. This thought inspires Josie Long’s brand-new show of stand-up infused with humanity, compassion and some brief political rants.

The triple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, underdog Fringe hero and delirious new mother (the first person to have two babies) returns with a show about the changes wrought by time, passion, moving to Scotland, and loving the world under – let’s face it – difficult circumstances.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

Pay What You Can
10% of our tickets for Josie’s show will be released on a Pay What You Can basis

Support from The Brigideens, an experimental-folk duo comprising Catriona Gribben and Aoife O’Reilly, will present a performance of stories and songs exploring the ancient Celtic calendar celebration of Imbolc.

This new record from Myles McCormack comprises 10 carefully crafted songs which are characteristically philosophical, playful, introspective and moving.

It features re-worked versions of previously released singles Comfort Zone and The River Rises, as well as the particularly expressive One Day.

New songs Thing Of The Earth and Every Time explore romantic themes with maturity and lyrical precision, while tracks such as Julie and Back To The Stream are great examples of Myles’ unusual guitar styles.

Although rarely flashy, there is some unique and intricate playing on both acoustic and electrics across the record. Sparing use of piano and organ parts add colour and depth while percussion varies from intimate brushes and claps to bodhráns and full drum kits.

Rough edges are laid bare and soft touches are favoured over soaring solos. While far from today’s pop sounds, the songs are subtly catchy with delightful earworm moments which will reward repeat listens.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

If you are an arts student, please contact arts.culture@ulster.ac.uk with your student number to reserve a free ticket.

The ‘Rembrandt of the housing estate’ found lyricism in Tile Hill, capturing a changing Britain. In this informal illustrated Q and A, George Shaw talks about his work and influences.

Shaw, who was nominated for The Turner Prize in 2011, is known for his highly detailed approach and suburban subject matter.

His favoured medium is Humbrol enamel paints, more usually used to paint model trains and aeroplanes. This gives his work a unique appearance.

Shaw will talk about his work and influences, not just visual artists but music and culture that were formative experiences.  From the music of The Fall, The Specials and Joy Division to Ladybird books and badge design.

While the landscape is his subject, he focuses on the suburban surroundings of his childhood rather than the countryside. His paintings and drawings depict bus stops, phone boxes, pubs and graffiti against a backdrop of semidetached homes, blocks of flats and expanses of grey sky.

This view of England is not always flattering, but it offers a detailed study of the changing nature of social housing; these unconsidered or neglected landscapes are suddenly elevated by the poignancy of personal memory.

Presented by Out to Lunch and Ulster Presents.

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved Seating

EARLY JAMES

Rising star Early James has just released his second album, Strange Time To Be Alive to even more positive reviews than his brilliant debut, Singing For My Supper.

With the charmed eccentricity of a true poet, the Alabama-bred singer/songwriter takes in the endless absurdity he sees around him, then alchemizes his unease into a glorious patchwork of musical idioms: forsaken blues and contemplative folk songs, brooding murder ballads and lovestruck piano tunes.

The lyrical wordsmith conjures the ghosts of great southern gothic writers from Eudora Welty toWilliam Faulkner, while channeling the haunted spirits of Tom Waits and Townes Van Zandt.

Produced by Dan Auerbach, the album evokes a timeless amalgam of forsaken blues, wistful folk and Tin Pan Alley crooning, anchored by the singer’s unmistakable voice that sways from gravel-filled shouts to a pained, forlorn whisper.

‘No one can do what Early James does…taps into Easy Eye Sound’s signature greasy soul and his own brand of warm, elastic blues.’– NO DEPRESSION

‘James’ eclectic approach is brilliantly idiosyncratic. No one sounds like him. Or even comes close.’ – American Songwriter

LIZZIE NO

New York singer-songwriter, harpist and guitarist Lizzie No is one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary Americana music. Her 2017 debut album Hard Won was hailed as “simultaneously understated and fervent” by Billboard Magazine.

No’s 2019 album Vanity was a hit at college radio stations across the country, cracking the NACC Top Adds Chart. Rolling Stone called the first single Narcissus a “crisp alt-rock gem” and a “Song You Need To Know.” After dropping a surprise home-studio-made EP in 2020, Lizzie is currently working on her third album due for release in 2023.

Lizzie has toured with Iron & Wine, Adia Victoria, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, and has showcased at festivals like Newport Folk Fest, AmericanaFest, South by Southwest, and the Mile Of Music Festival.

‘Lizzie No has been quietly making superb records largely on her own over the past several years.’ – ROLLING STONE

‘Lizzie No has picked up the musical baton of greats like Linda Thompson and Sandy Denny, spread it thick with a shadowy relevance born of her New York background, and unleashed what amounts to a new sub-genre of folk with a country tinge.’ – AMERICANA UK

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved Seating

Arco String Quartet is one of the country’s leading professional and dynamic string quartets, having gained a fine reputation in Ireland both North and South for excellence and creativity. Recent collaborations have included Foy Vance, Villagers, Soak and The Darkling Air.

The Quartet continue to push the boundaries of its art, specialising in the arrangement and performance of all music genres, particularly rock and pop.

All the players are graduates of major music conservatories in England and Ireland, and have performed all over the world, as far afield as China, USA, Malaysia and South Africa, with orchestras including The Ulster Orchestra, The RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Ireland, The Irish Chamber Orchestra, The Halle Orchestra, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Northern Ballet and Manchester Camerata.

Arco String Quartet, before moving home to Northern Ireland, also appeared at Covent Garden and held a residency in the famous Claridges Hotel in London.

Doors 12.30pm | Unreserved seating

Out to Lunch is delighted to welcome multi-platinum selling artist Mick Flannery to Belfast for this rare and intimate show.

To date, Mick has released eight studio albums, three of which reached No. 1.  His latest full length In The Game, a collaboration with Susan O’Neill, was the biggest independent selling record in Ireland in 2021.

Mick has been described by Clash magazine as ‘a complete master of his craft’ whilst The Sunday Times says of his songwriting that he ‘conjures up exquisite story-telling’. Mick is often cited as one of Ireland’s most gifted songwriters to date.

Mick is currently recording his 9th studio record due out later in 2023.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved seating

This new walking tour uncovers the history of the city’s emergent Cultural Quarter. Your guide will help you to see and appreciate more of what is in plain sight on our streets – if we only look up, or down.

Starting from The Black Box, the group will stroll down narrow entries, cross open squares, view historic and landmark buildings, public artworks and lively music venues – thoroughly exploring the Cathedral Quarter.

The tour will take in Writer’s Square, The Common Market, the Oh Yeah Music Centre, The MAC and Exchange Place.This entertaining and insightful ‘Cathedral Quarter Arts Trail’ will:

• Point out some of the exciting and colourful pieces of street art and public sculptures, identifying the artists.
•  Show you features of the area associated with Belfast writers and poets. – Visit a music exhibition and consider Belfast as a UNESCO City of Music.
•  Help you to see the city’s historic ‘Entries’ in a new light.Please arrive outside The Black Box five minutes before the start time. Come prepared for all weather and to walk up to 1.5 miles, including on several cobbled streets.

Tickets £12.00

PRACTICAL DETAILS

Saturday 28 January, 1-2.30pm

Tour starts from and returns to: The Black Box, Hill Street

Duration: approx. 90 minutes

An Out to Lunch Festival debut for a band starting to make a serious waves on the Irish Blues scene following the release of their incredible 2021 album Revelator.

The 2:19 are influenced by everything blues; from the crossroads of the Delta through the 60s Blues Boom to Stevie Ray Vaughan and beyond.

Today’s show will feature songs from Revelator and brand new songs from their forthcoming 2^nd album. A treat is in store for the Blues convert or just fans of great music.

Doors 1.30 | Unreserved seating

‘The musicianship is top-notch, the songs are all strong, and the arrangements just work. Go buy this album.’DOWN AT THE CROSSROADS

Hosted by Belfast Comedy stalwarts Alan Irwin (Chortle Student Comedian of the Year Runner-Up) and Ronan Linskey (Bulmer’s Irish Comedian of the Year 2015)

Kill Your Darlings has been running for the last 6 years in the Black Box, and it has become one of Belfast’s most loved comedy clubs. It features new and established comedians doing all new never heard before material. Previous acts include Colin Murphy, Shane Todd, Colin Geddis, Theresa Livingstone.

Doors 2.30pm | Unreserved Seating

Hailed by Hotpress Magazine as ‘One of Northern Ireland’s most exciting bands to emerge in recent times’, No Oil Paintings are a vivacious, dynamic, alternative-folk band from Belfast.

Their mix of folk instrumentation, four-part harmonies and high energy live shows serves to create their own brand of genre-bending roots music. The band switch and share lead vocals with each member delivering their own style to the songs they bring to the table.

During their career they have had many notable successes, some of which include headlining stages at Stendhal Festival, Sunflower Festival, and Open House Festival. Other live accomplishments include supporting The Dead South at a sold-out show in The Limelight – Belfast, and being chosen by Hannah Peel to partake in the Mix the City project joining 95 musicians and curators in 12 locations to create a creative platform representing Belfast.

Their proudest creative achievement to date has been collaborating with Grammy award winner Joss Stone during her world tour. The band were chosen to be accompanied by Joss on one of their original songs God Only Knows. The collaboration was recorded and videoed live and has received over 300,000 views online.

‘One of Ireland’s finest, most forward-pushing alternative folk outfits.’ – THE THIN AIR

‘The band are at home on a live stage, particularly when the audience can give it back like they do tonight.’– BBC (Across the Line)

Doors 2.30pm | Unreserved seating

With heart-wrenching songwriting and luscious harmonies combined with the natural storytelling of folk, the rhythms of Americana and catchy pop hooks, Madison Violet have been captivating audiences and critics alike for two decades.

Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac met in Toronto in 1999, only to discover that their fathers sat next to each other in high school nearly 2000km away in Cape Breton. That longstanding, deep-rooted history is what ties the duo’s harmonies so tight, and lies at the core of their unparalleled musical connection and enthralling live show.

Following the release of their most recent record, Eleven, Madison Violet received a hat-trick of nominations in the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards, adding to their impressive list of accolades that includes a Juno nomination, a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Vocal Group Album, a Critic’s Choice Award from Country Music People’s Magazine, and the John Lennon Songwriting Grand Prize.

Madison Violet’s songs have featured in influential music magazine MOJO’s Top 10 playlist, as well as CBC Radio 2’s Top 20, and received a mass of international acclaim from outlets such as the BBC, Maverick Magazine, NPR and Germany’s WDR, where the duo feature on the station’s list of ‘Best Bands of All Time’.

In a brief sojourn from their signature roots-based sound, their 2014 single These Ships was remixed and released on one of the largest US dance labels, Ultra Records, garnering over 1.2 million plays on Spotify (for that track alone), and counting.

Doors 7.30pm | Unreserved Seating

‘Heartaching harmonies and tunes make Madison Violet a must-see act.’ – THE INDEPENDENT

‘Madison Violet are a joy to experience… there are few other acts that can provide such a strong statement of quality musicianship coupled with songs of the highest caliber.’– LONESOME HIGHWAY

Social media sensation and Chortle Award winner Rosie Holt tours her hour of character comedy based on her hit satirical videos.

A right-wing “opinionist” distorting the news, an MP desperately defending a failing government, a left-winger wanting to say the right thing but scared of getting it wrong.

‘The Thick of It levels of writing and performance applied to a very 2022 flavour of political bullshit.’- THE TIMES

‘A wonderful showcase for the woman that the pandemic turned into a sensation with her hilarious but also chilling realistic takes on a dissembling rising Tory star.’ -THE NEW EUROPEAN

‘If she can stay in character long enough, she’ll have a Telegraph column and a seat on Question Time by teatime’ – JAMES O’BRIEN, LBC

★★★★ Time Out ★★★★ Broadway Baby ★★★★ The Arts Desk ★★★★★ Lost in Theatreland

Doors 1.30pm | Unreserved seating

Stuart Braithwaite will participate in a Q and A about his new book and his work with Mogwai.

Born the son of Scotland’s last telescope-maker, Stuart Braithwaite was perhaps always destined for a life of psychedelic adventuring on the furthest frontiers of noise in MOGWAI, one of the best-loved and most ground-breaking post-rock bands of the past three decades.

Modestly delinquent at school, Stuart developed an early appetite for ‘alternative’ music in what might arguably be described as its halcyon days, the late ’80s. Discovering bands like Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, and Jesus and Mary Chain, and attending seminal gigs (often incongruously incognito as a young girl with long hair to compensate for his babyface features) by The Cure and Nirvana, Stuart compensated for his indifference to school work with a dedication to rock and roll . . . and of course the fledgling hedonism that comes with it.

Spaceships Over Glasgow is a love song to live rock and roll; to the passionate abandon, we’ve all felt in the crowd (and some of us, if lucky enough, from the stage) at a truly incendiary gig. It is also the story of a life lived on the edge; of the high times and hazardous pit-stops of international touring with a band of misfits and miscreants.

Let Us Be Seen is a rally cry demanding that people in Belfast who campaign tirelessly for change are finally seen and heard.

It is a splash of colour, showcasing the creative ways individuals provide an alternative to the binary politics in Belfast, dealing with the myriad issues affecting feminists in the North of Ireland.

Documenting how activists, artists and educators join forces to make change, this film contains art and music from many talented local individuals including bands:Gender Chores, Problem Patterns, Strange New Places and Sister Ghost.

Join for a special screening followed by an intimate gig from feminist punk trio Gender Chores.

Director Elspeth Vischer will be around to discuss where things are at over three years on from the decriminalisation of abortion and legalisation of same-sex marriage via Westminster ruling on 21st October 2019 and answer any questions.

Doors 7.00pm | Unreserved Seating

Having built their reputation as one of Ireland’s top entertainment acts, the pandemic forced Anna’s Number back to their humble busking roots. Now, having sold out two of Belfast’s most iconic venues over the past year, we’re delighted to have them close the Out To Lunch Festival.

Bringing the ‘showband’ into the Instagram generation, Anna’s Number are renowned for their expansive, inventive setlist – from 60s rock ‘n’ roll and 70s funk/soul classics to noughties Clubland bangers and viral TikTok hits.

With Anna’s Number you just don’t get their chemistry, you get the whole periodic table!

This will be another live gig to remember with the bunsen burner turned all the way up to eleven!

Check out Anna’s Number at: https://www.annasnumber.com

Doors 7.30pm | Limited Unreserved Seating